text:
From the Philly Inquirer:
When Amazon announced its search for a second North American headquarters, government officials, developers, and residents in cities nationwide embraced the prospect as decidedly good news.
Including many in Seattle.
While cities began immediately plotting ways to reel in the online retail giant, Seattle, for the first time in years, was catching its breath. After years of skyrocketing real estate prices, unprecedented development, and a record-breaking number of cranes in the sky as a result of Seattle’s tech boom, Amazon’s plan to expand elsewhere offered the city, finally, a reprieve.
Granted, Amazon’s presence has been extraordinary for Seattle. Since the company began building its campus there a decade ago, Amazon has provided jobs, investment, and a reputation that Seattle never could have imagined. Today, 40,000 well-paid employees bustle around the company’s urban campus. Amazon has built and rented 8.1 million square feet of downtown office space. At least $3.7 billion has been invested in the local economy. And Amazon’s presence has persuaded other tech companies — Uber, Airbnb, and Zillow — to locate in the city.
But with prosperity have come profound costs. By some measures, Seattle has become the fifth-most-expensive U.S. city and the ninth-priciest worldwide. The median price of a single-family home or condo in Seattle was $522,000 in August, according to real estate company Redfin, a 67 percent spike from April 2010, when Amazon opened its headquarters. Last month, the median rent for a one-bedroom jumped to $1,380, according to Apartment List. And a Seattle Times analysis found that Amazon occupies 19 percent of Seattle’s office space — putting more pressure on office rental prices, some argue.
Yet Amazon’s impact on Seattle’s housing market is undeniable, raising the question: Could Amazon create the same affordability crisis in its next location?
“Every city will be confronted with this if Amazon chooses it,” said Nela Richardson, Redfin’s chief economist. But, “it gives cities the opportunity to define it. … To talk [in their proposals] about how the city could manage this growth.”


text:
Unfortunately, these iPhone 5 cases aren’t official issue but it’s interesting to know that they’re already out there.
The iPhone 5 has yet to be announced but it looks like that isn’t stopping some third party manufacturers from getting ready this early and putting together cases that should protect your iPhone 5 when it does come out.
The cases that were spotted are from TVC-Mall, based in Shenzen, China. This was first shared on Mac Rumors (from a report on Cydia Blog). The cases shared by TVC-Mall correspond closely to the rumored designs of the iPhone 5 and are selling for less than $2. What’s interesting here is that these third party manufacturers are very confident that the iPhone 5 will match up closely with the features and appearance already being circulated in the internet.
If you do decide to grab a case earl, TVC-Mall does give warning to buyers that there is no guarantee that these cases will work with the device:
“Notice: As iPhone 5 has not been unveiled, we can’t guarantee this product can be used in iPhone 5,” a large, red warning reads. “If you have any questions, please contact our friendly customer service representatives.”
CNET shares that something similr happened with the cases for the iPhone 4S last year, with some manufacturers dropping some serious money on molds for designs that never came out:
“Numerous case makers who created molds based on rumored specifications got burned. That includes Hard Candy, which dropped a reported $10,000 on molds for wider, thinner iPhones that never came out. The reward, of course, is a potential windfall from sales by early buyers, who get the phone and want an alternative to Apple’s Bumpers. For those manufacturers who wait, it can take weeks, or even months to get their first batch of cases out on the market.”
But hey, if you’re really excited about the iPhone 5, what have you got to lose except a few bucks by buying these cases, right?

domain: news


text:
Purplebricks Group PLC (LON:PURP) is the topic of conversation when Zeus Capital’s Research Director Robin Savage caught up with DirectorsTalk for an exclusive interview
Q1: Purplebricks’ AGM statement, released this morning, says it’s made a strong start to the current financial year and trading in the UK and Australia remains on course to meet full year guidance, provided at the Final results in June, with revenues of £80 million for the UK and £12 million for Australia. What do you think are the key points there?
A1: The trading statement provides explicit commentary on the progress that’s been made in the past three months. In the UK, there’s been a 19% growth in the last 3 months in Local Property Experts, the number has increased to 640 and the revenues are probably more than double that for the same period last year.
In Australia, growth in Local Property Experts over the past 3 months is 30%, they’ve now got over 100 and revenues will be many times ahead of last year.
If anyone wants to check this, they can check it on a regular basis, you just go on to the company’s website and you can see the individual Local Property Experts, you can count them for yourselves.
In the US, the company is ahead of plan and they are very encouraged by the initial response. They say the website visits and valuation booked exceeded both the UK and Australia at the same period of their development and they received their first buy-side mandate soon after the launch went live earlier this month.
These statements are further substantiated by my analysis of the data which is available on the internet and the statement also revealed that the Group had net cash of £65 million at the end of August 2017. So, it’s fully funded through to the development of all their new businesses.
Q2: Now, there are many vocal critics of Purplebricks, what’s your view?
A2: Well, the company is growing fast and this growth has been achieved at the cost of its competitors so the competitors are not terribly happy.
The UK business became profitable in the Summer of 2016, just over 24 months after its launch and it’s now the largest UK estate agent by numbers of property on Rightmove and is 7 months ahead of our forecast in terms of Local Property Expert recruitment. This is good preparation for the Spring housing market for 2018 and I suspect it’s going to signal increased competitive conditions in 2018.
Australia is on track to become profitable in late 2018, which is only 15 months after its launch so it’s developing extremely fast and the US business units are developing faster than Australia so the Group is growing fast.
The customer experience is overwhelmingly positive, as evidenced by the company’s Net Promoter Score of +80. Although there may be the odd detractor who has difficulty selling their house for all sorts of particular reasons, there are considerably more happy customers than there are unhappy customers.
Q3: Purplebricks Group’s shares are down 20% over the past 2 months but over the past 6 months they’re up 30%. Is this a good time to invest in the company’s shares?
A3: To value the company, investors should first recognise that it is well capitalised with £65 million of net cash at the end of August and in trying to set a value for the company I think there are three distinct parts, the UK business, there’s the Australia business and there’s the US business.
So, the UK business, it’s grown very fast, it’s profitably and the growth is clearly self-funding. Last year the EBITDA for the UK business was £1.5 million, this year it should make about £15 million EBITDA, next year around about £30 million and the year after, £45 million. So, at ten times EBITDA just to keep the maths simple, this is a valuation of £450 million which is £1.66 a share.
Australia’s on track to breakeven this time next year and it’ll be a similar size in value, in my view, to the UK business because the revenues per instruction are more than twice the UK. So, there are around half the number of properties in the market so at full scale it’ll be a smaller business but more profitability so therefore, in terms of value, it’ll be a similar size.
So, if you put together the UK and Australia business together, you get around about £3.22 which leaves 55p for the US business. Clearly the USA is a much larger market than the UK and Australia and also their revenue per instruction is considerably more than either the UK or Australia.
So, I think that this is probably are very interesting entry level because, as you said, the shares are significantly below their last 2 months, I think they’re 28% below the August peak value. So, it’s definitely an interesting time to be looking to buy in ahead of the interim results which are going to be published on the 13th December.


text:
REDMOND, Wash. — Jan. 24, 2006 — Microsoft Corp. today announced that AMR Research Inc., a premier global provider of independent analysis to supply chain and technology executives, has published a survey report naming Microsoft Business Solutions (MBS) as the leading contender for businesses that will purchase or upgrade their enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions within the next year.
When asked which vendors would be considered for ERP software purchases in 2006, IT decision-makers from 271 surveyed companies most often chose Microsoft Business Solutions over all other major global brands. Behind MBS in the survey were Oracle Corp. and SAP AG, according to AMR’s Market Analytix Service Application Spending Series report, “Enterprise Resource Planning Spending Report, 2005–2006,” by Bob Locke, Jim Shepherd, and Wendy Davis.
“This AMR Research report validates what we’re hearing from our customers, that businesses prefer integrated and adaptable solutions over higher-priced products from companies such as SAP,” said James Utzschneider, general manager of product marketing for Microsoft Business Solutions.
MBS delivers best-of-breed financial management, supply chain management and customer relationship management solutions for organizations of all sizes. Microsoft’s ERP solutions were rebranded as Microsoft Dynamics™ late last year.
A Bull Market for ERP Investment
The AMR report also showed that more than 70 percent of organizations surveyed plan to increase their ERP spending in 2006, reflecting pent-up demand following several years of information technology (IT) cost-cutting. Improvement in the global economy is now allowing companies to shift their IT focus from cutting costs to creating revenue and improving operational efficiency.
ERP budget growth in 2006 is projected to increase by what the AMR report’s authors call an “astounding” 14.6 percent. On average, surveyed companies said they plan to spend $5.1 million (U.S.) on all ERP-related activities in 2006. Software purchases will approach 50 percent of total ERP spending.
“When we asked participants which vendors would be considered in 2006 for their ERP purchases, Microsoft Business Solutions led the pack,” said Jim Shepherd, research director at AMR and co-author of the recent report. “Our research indicates that there will be a huge surge in ERP spending in 2006. With companies of all sizes growing their ERP budgets, this is bound to be a banner year for top vendors in this space.”
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft® Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass on Microsoft’s corporate information pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.mspx.


text:
(Photos: Patrick Croasdaile)
‘Cartlandia,’ the bike-centric food cart pod on the Springwater Corridor Trail we told you about back in January, is about to open.
I caught up with the man behind the development (who also did the Mississippi Marketplace in North Portland), Roger Goldingay, to get an update and learn more about this exciting project.
Cartlandia is set to open on May 1st, and will have the capacity for around 35 food carts — all accessible directly from the Springwater Corridor Trail through dedicated, paved entrances along the path.
Being on the Springwater Corridor — which connects all the way to downtown Portland — the carts will be easily accessible to an entire region of bicycling customers. People can even take the Green Line MAX train to the Flavel St. Station (just to the east), hop on the Springwater, and be at Cartlandia in just a few pedal strokes.
The location along a biking and walking path was one of Goldingay’s key considerations in purchasing the lot.
The success of his Mississippi Marketplace food cart pod convinced him that bicycle accessibility would play a major role in any future pods he developed. A regular bike rider himself, Roger thinks, “bikes and carts [are] a perfect combination.”
“I want people to be able to go [with their bikes] to the area where they’re going to order and eat. We’re going to have parking for bikes everywhere.”
While bike and MAX access were key considerations for Goldingay, he admits that, “The carts will not survive if it’s just bike and foot traffic.” Cartlandia will have 40 car parking spaces to capture some of the 3,000 or so cars that pass by on SE 82nd every hour.
Regardless of how people get to Cartlandia, Goldingay also sees the project having spillover benefits for the surrounding neighborhoods. The nearby Brentwood-Darlington neighborhood is working-class and diverse (the Thien Quang Buddhist Temple is just across the street) — a much different type of neighborhood than inner Portland.
Goldingay says, “The response from the neighborhood has been amazing.” Answering my question about how nearby businesses were responding to his development, he said he hadn’t had any complaints. He referred to the success of Mississippi Marketplace, where businesses nearby noticed an upswing in customers after his carts became operational. Roger is hoping for a similar outcome with Cartlandia.
Goldingay hopes to attract more than food carts to the development. He is currently looking for bike-centric businesses and has talked with a potential investor about running a small bike shop or repair station. With about 1,000 bikes passing by every day, it seems like an ideal spot for some sort of bike business with a knack for service.
In you’re interested, drop Goldingay a line at Cartlandia.com.
For everyone else, it’s time to start planning some rides. A good chance to visit Cartlandia is the East Portland Sunday Parkways on May 22nd — the route comes within easily pedaling distance.


text:
Glenn Lyon is chairman and CEO of The Finish Line.
- Filed Under
Glenn Lyon, CEO of Indianapolis-based The Finish Line, and John Weber, CEO and president of Pendleton-headquartered Remy International, were named winners of the Entrepreneur of the Year award for the Midwest region by Ernst & Young.
Among nine regional winners, they were chosen by a panel made up of previous winners of the award and other regional business leaders. They're now eligible to be named the National Entrepreneur of the Year.


text:
Baron & Budd Teams Up With Wildfire Lawyers Singleton Law Firm and Ed Diab To Represent Victims of Deadly California Wildfires
Fires Cause Widespread Devastation Throughout Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Yuba Counties; Initial News...READ MORE
Firm Has Settled with Discover, Other Credit Card Companies Over Deceptive Marketing Practices of Payment Protection Plans
DALLAS –(December 20, 2013) –Baron and Budd, a national law firm dedicated to protecting the rights of consumers, has announced settlements totaling more than $17 million on behalf of the states of West Virginia, Mississippi and Hawaii regarding the deceptive marketing of credit card payment protection plans. Baron and Budd attorneys Russell Budd, Burton LeBlanc, Laura Baughman and Ann Saucer served as counsel in the litigation, along with co-counsel and each state’s Office of the Attorney General.
Baron and Budd served as co-counsel for the State of West Virginia’s suits in which Discover, Chase, Bank of America, and other credit card companies paid $13 million to settle the claims brought against them. The firm also negotiated a settlement with one credit card company, Discover, on behalf of the states of Hawaii and Mississippi, totaling $4.45 million.
Baron and Budd worked closely with Patrick Morrisey, the Attorney General of West Virginia, Jim Hood, the Attorney General of Mississippi, and David M. Louie, the Attorney General of Hawaii, to achieve these results.
“This settlement sends a strong message to the credit card companies that what they are doing is not right,” said Burton LeBlanc, shareholder at Baron and Budd and current president of the American Association for Justice. “Through this case, these three state Attorneys General have held credit card companies accountable for deceptive marketing practices. It has truly been an honor to work with Generals Morrisey, Hood and Louie, and to help them change corporate conduct for the better in their states.”
Many consumers may be familiar with credit card payment protection plans. In most cases, consumers are contacted by their credit card company via phone and asked if they want to sign up for a payment protection plan. These calls, however, can be misleading to consumers, many of whom unintentionally and unknowingly sign up for these protection plans. After signing up, consumers are charged monthly fees by their credit card company for the service, even though they may not have understood what they were signing up for. The credit card company is able to make these charges because they already have the cardholder’s credit card information.
The plan is touted as a way to protect a consumer in the event of unemployment, disability or other difficult life events. However, these protection plans actually offer little to no real benefit to consumers, and are merely a means for credit card companies to make additional money.
Baron and Budd is a driving force in national litigation regarding financial fraud issues that harm consumers. Recently, the firm helped negotiate a national settlement with many of the country’s prominent banks over excessive overdraft fees. The firm was the lead negotiator in a $110 million settlement with JPMorgan Chase and assisted in negotiations that led to a $410 million settlement with Bank of America. These settlements forced banks to change their policies regarding overdraft fees. The firm currently represents numerous homeowners in various mortgage fraud lawsuits.
To learn more about Baron and Budd’s financial fraud practice, call 1.866.844.4556 or visit the firm’s website at //baronandbudd.com.
The national mesothelioma law firm of Baron & Budd, P.C. has a more than 30-year history of “Protecting What’s Right” for asbestos sufferers and their families. As one of the first law firms to successfully litigate an asbestos lawsuit, Baron & Budd continues to actively represent veterans, industry workers and others who are suffering as a result of exposure to asbestos. Baron & Budd achieved the largest mesothelioma verdict ever in the state of Texas, a $55 million verdict for an asbestos sufferer and his family in El Paso, Texas. Contact Baron and Budd at 1.866.855.1229 for additional information on mesothelioma treatments, mesothelioma cancer doctors and treatment centers and mesothelioma attorneys.


text:
It could be getting a whole lot easier to get cash out of ATMs, as FIS and ATM provider Payment Alliance International recently announced plans to bring Touch ID access to 70,000 ATMs across the U.S., according to a report from The Verge.
Under the partnership, ATM customers can use their FIS Cardless Cash app with eligible Payment Alliance ATMs and withdraw the cash directly through their phones by making a withdrawal online. ATM customers will have to use a QR code at the ATM to authenticate themselves and can then access and withdraw their waiting cash from the machine.
It will even allow ATM customers to verify themselves with Touch ID to confirm the withdrawal and take out their cash.
There is no timetable for when the ATMs will be released across the country — and no specified areas yet — but this new feature should make ATM withdrawals more convenient and safer for customers.
With card skimmers becoming more sophisticated and harder to detect all the time, this is one way to bypass the act of having to physically insert your card into an ATM (or a skimmer that looks like part of the ATM). Although, the new ATMs still come with their own set of risks for most online cash transfers or transactions.
FIS and Payment Alliance are just the latest companies and banks to move in this direction. Bank of America, Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase all announced plans this year to make their ATMs compatible with Apple Pay in the near future.
If you’re one of those people who’s always worried about the security of that unfamiliar ATM that you have to use in a strange place, the solution could soon be on its way.


text:
Your Obsession With SUVs and Crossovers like the Ford Escape and Chevy Traverse Probably Just Led to 1,500 People Being Laid Off
Sedans are bearing the brunt of the growing popularity of crossovers and SUVsby Kirby, on
The growing popularity of crossovers and SUVs has been a goldmine for a lot of automakers. As the demand for these cars grows, car companies are becoming more invested in building more of them. Unfortunately, there is a downside to the strong focus being put on crossovers and SUVs, and sedans are bearing the brunt of it. Sales of sedans have fallen off a cliff across the industry to the point that some automakers are taking drastic action to curb the increasingly worrisome trend. A good example is General Motors. The American automaker owns Chevrolet, and sales of the brand’s Cruze sedan is declining at an alarming rate. As such, the General has taken the difficult step of cutting the production of the Cruze by half, and in doing so, it could also cut as many as 1,500 jobs because of it.
The steady decline already prompted the General to scale back the production of the car at its Lordstown, Ohio facility to just two shifts
If you’ve been following the auto industry long enough, you know that the law of supply and demand hovers over it like a cloud. When interest in a specific segment increases, there’s another segment that’s going to be negatively affected by it. We’re seeing how that dynamic is playing out with the growing popularity of crossovers and SUVs and the dramatic decline in interest in sedans.
The Chevrolet Cruze is one of many sedans that are affected by it. Sales of the sedan have fallen dramatically in recent years, culminating in only 184,000 sold units in 2017, a 28 percent drop from sales numbers in 2016. The steady decline already prompted the General to scale back the production of the car at its Lordstown, Ohio facility to just two shifts compared to running it around at the clock in the past. Unfortunately, those measures still weren’t enough to stop the bleeding, forcing GM to take it a step further and slash as many as 1,500 jobs.
The production cutback is the latest sign that the market is increasingly shunning sedans in favor of utility vehicles
You could pin this decision on a number of factors, but it’s hard to go around the growing popularity of crossovers and SUVs is the biggest reason behind it. It’s not just that more and more customers are buying crossovers and SUVs, it’s that they’re sticking to the segment once they’ve gotten a piece of it. Data from auto consulting firm IHS Markit revealed that 66.9 percent of U.S. households with an SUV or crossover utility vehicle who returned to the market bought another utility vehicle, an all-time high mark.
"The broad range of utilities available, whether it be based on size, price or technology, now rivals the choice among sedans and continues to grow," IHS Markit’s Tom Libby said.
The production cutback is the latest sign that the market is increasingly shunning sedans in favor of utility vehicles. If this trend continues — and there’s no reason to believe it won’t — sedans, and the people who build them, could be put in an even more precarious position.
Read our full review on the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze.
Read our full review on the 2018 Ford Escape.
Read our full review on the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse.
Read more Chevrolet news.
Read more General Motors news.


text:
The Better Business Bureau of Saskatchewan is warning of a business conducting door-to-door sales in Regina after complaints of high-pressure sales tactics and verbal abuse.
BBB has identified Accredited Dryer Vent Cleaning as the subject of the complaints. Its headquarters are in Calgary.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
The business currently has an F rating by BBB due to multiple unresolved consumer complaints involving business practices, including not providing adequate service after receiving payments, according to a BBB news release. An F rating is the lowest possible rating the BBB can issue and warns consumers to be very wary of doing business with them.
The business is not registered with Information Services Corporation and does not have a Direct Sellers License issued by the Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority of Saskatchewan — a branch of the Ministry of Justice.
“Every year, the BBB receives a number of inquiries and complaints from consumers who have been approached at their residence by door-to-door sellers. Direct sellers must be licensed under FCAA. This applies to seasonal business, as well as those that operate all year long,” the news release said.
If approached by a door-to-door seller, BBB advises consumers to ask for references from past customers, contact each reference to verify their experience and ask to see a copy of the company’s direct sellers license or other proof of licensing.
BBB says reputable businesses will not require signatures at the door and urges consumers to take their time to read any documentation given to them by the seller and be wary if the sales pitch has a limited time offer. If you feel threatened by a person at your door, call the police.
Under the Direct Sellers Act, consumers may cancel any contracted service as long as the cancellation is delivered in writing to the Saskatchewan office of the business — or legal authority in the province — within 10 days of its execution.
For more information about a business, Direct Sellers and tips to avoid scams, visit bbb.org or call the BBB office at 1-888-352-7601.
Door-to-door scammers and high pressure businesses can be reported to BBB using their scam report tool, Scam Tracker.


text:
The Krebs DDoS attacks have proven that the IoT landscape is a fertile ground that can breed huge botnets capable of launching massive DDoS assaults. As such, it should be no surprise that malware authors are now focusing their efforts on this sector and putting out new threats in the hopes of building the next Mirai botnet.
- Windows Bug Used to Spread Stuxnet Remains World’s Most Exploited Digest Article
- Threats: Social Engineering and Malicious Spam Dominate Digest Article
- Mirai and Hajime Locked Into IoT Botnet Battle Digest Article
- 711 Million Email Addresses Ensnared in ‘Largest’ Spambot Digest Article
- FBI Arrests Another Hacker Who Visited United States to Attend a Conference Digest Article


text:
Kenyan startup Lori Systems has been crowned the winner of the inaugural TechCrunch Battlefield Africa in Nairobi, winning US$25,000 in equity-free funding and an all-expenses paid trip for two to compete in the Battlefield at TechCrunch’s flagship event, Disrupt SF 2018.
Nairobi-based e-logistics platform Lori Systems was crowned “Sub-Saharan Africa’s Most Promising Startup”, and also won the productivity and utility category.
Ghanaian agri-tech startup AgroCenta was chosen as the winner of the social good category, while another Ghanaian company – merchant platform SynCommerce – won the top prize in gaming and entertainment.
“We decided to bring the Battlefield to Sub-Saharan Africa because its tech market is on the rise – the region has produced its first unicorn in the shape of Jumia, exits are increasingly frequent, and global venture capitalists are taking note. Our judges were impressed by the high quality of the finalists, their creativity and their focus on solving real problems, often with limited resources,” said Ned Desmond, chief operating officer (COO) at TechCrunch.
“We love to see startup ecosystems develop, and hope that Battlefield Africa will shine a light on the many promising, world-class young tech companies in the region. We look forward to meet Lori Systems again in San Francisco, where it will join the best and brightest entrepreneurs, investors, hackers, and tech fans in the world for the global Startup Battlefield.”


text:
LAS VEGAS, NV — Every three years, tens of thousands of contractors from around the world descend upon Las Vegas, NV for CONEXPO-CON/AGG, making it the perfect time for an equipment auction. On March 12 – 13, 2020—during the week of CONEXPO—Ritchie Bros. will sell thousands of items through an unreserved public auction at its site in Las Vegas, approximately 20 minutes from the trade show grounds.
Thanks to recent innovations by the company, bidders can participate in the Ritchie Bros.’ Las Vegas auction without having to miss a minute of CONEXPO. Ritchie Bros.’ PriorityBid functionality allows customers to place bids on items online days ahead of the auction, or customers can participate live and real-time right from the trade show floor via Ritchie Bros.’ mobile application. Bidders can also participate in person at the auction site or online at rbauction.com.
“CONEXPO-CON/AGG is the perfect time for consignors to take advantage of the massive crowds expected in Las Vegas,” said Mike Dastic, regional sales manager, Ritchie Bros. “The marketing campaign for our March 2020 event is expected to reach hundreds of thousands of potential buyers—no other auction company can match our technology, customer database, or marketing expertise. We encourage sellers to contact us today to make sure their equipment gets maximum exposure.”
For large consignments, Ritchie Bros. is offering sellers across the United States the option of selling their assets in Las Vegas virtually. Equipment will remain on the consignor’s property and be sold by photo at Ritchie Bros.’ auction site.
More than 100 companies have already consigned equipment to the March Las Vegas auction, including companies from overseas. Early consignment highlights include:
- A 2018 Caterpillar D7E dozer
- Three Caterpillar 336FL excavators
- Two 2018 Caterpillar 336NG excavators
- Two 2018 Caterpillar 950 wheel loaders
- Three 2018 Caterpillar 320NG excavators
- Three 2017 Komatsu PC360LC-11 excavators
For more information about Ritchie Bros.’ March auction in Las Vegas, visit rbauction.com/Las-Vegas or call +1.702.644.2468.


text:
Although Troy Lee Designs' new Stage helmet isn't available to buy JUST yet, you should be to get your hands on one later this year. One thing is for sure, it is one good looking lid! It has also won an award at 2018's Eurobike show.
Aimed at the Enduro market, the helmet features giant air flow ports with no mesh guarding, a lightweight construction, Fidlock fastening system and MIPS. Troy Lee Desgins claims that it'll be the lightest DH-certified lid on the market.
The lid has been designed by TLD's Guillaume Tanghe and when it's on sale it'll be supplied with three different cheek and kneck pad thicknesses. Final pricing and specs will be announced later this summer.


text:
Download Client Alert: Florida Back-to-School Tax Holiday
This Saturday, July 31st, the Back-to-School tax holiday begins in Florida. The extended version of the long-standing tax-free weekend will run through August 9th, allowing Floridians 10 full days to save on supplies in preparation for the beginning of the school year. The Florida Legislature passed House Bill 7061 during the 2021 session that created two new tax-holidays in June and July, which provided tax breaks on hurricane preparedness items and outdoor recreation purchases, respectively, and modified the Back-to-School holiday for 2021. The Department of Revenue expects savings from the 10-day Back-to-School holiday to total roughly $69.4 million, and specifies that consumers will not pay taxes on purchases in-store or online. Qualifying items include most school supplies selling for $15 or less; clothing, footwear, and accessories selling for $60 or less; and the first $1,000 of the sales price of computers and accessories (when purchased for noncommercial and personal use.) Not included in the holiday are clothing items selling for more than $60; school supply items selling for more than $15; books that are not otherwise exempt; computers and computer-related accessories purchased for commercial purposes; rentals or leases of any eligible items; repairs or alterations of any eligible items; or sales of any eligible items in a theme park, entertainment complex, public lodging establishment, or airport. More information for businesses and consumers is available here.


text:
Nintendo hasn't announced any plans to create more mini systems like it did with the NES and the SNES, but according to former Nintendo boss Reggie Fils-Aimé, it's unlikely that's going to happen. The previous Nintendo of America president said as much recently in an interview where he discussed the timing of those classic versions of the consoles and why, based on what Nintendo is doing right now, he doesn't feel the mini consoles will make a return.
Fils-Aimé spoke with CNET about his new book, Disrupting the Game: From the Bronx to the Top of Nintendo, among other topics related to the gaming industry. Those naturally skewed largely towards Nintendo-centered conversations given his experience with the mini consoles coming up during the talks, too.
Looking back on the launch of Nintendo's Classic consoles, Fils-Aimé said the minis came at a "critical moment in time" when the Wii U wasn't doing so hot and the Nintendo Switch wasn't quite ready yet. By comparison, he said he'd feel the focus now would be providing the "legacy content" appeal of these reimagined consoles through Nintendo's online services.
"Will it come back? Will there be other physical boxes with legacy content? I don't think so," he said. "If I were back at Nintendo for a day, I would be much more focused on: How does the company leverage all of its great content, deliver it to the consumer through that Nintendo online experience?"
Nintendo has indeed been bolstering its online offerings through things like more NES and SNES games made available through Nintendo Switch Online as well as the Nintendo 64 games offered through the online service's expansion option. He said he views the future of Nintendo's retro offerings like the Nintendo 64 games to be delivered online as opposed to through these mini consoles.
"Which they are doing… they're putting out some N64 content, they're working with other platform holders to bring out some of that legacy content," he said. "But that's where the opportunity is. Nintendo still has more N64 content to leverage. They've got GameCube content to leverage. They've got Wii content. I see this future of digitally delivered content to you, the consumer, as just this burgeoning opportunity that I would want to keep taking advantage of."0comments


text:
Alliance of Tech Founders Line up to Invest in the Next Generation of Global Innovators With $158m Series C Funding Round for Entrepreneur First
Entrepreneur First (EF), a scaleup investor in early stage founder talent, has raised a $158m Series C funding round from a group of veteran technology founders, including Patrick and John Collison, Reid Hoffman, Taavet Hinrikus and Matt Mullenweg.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220628005653/en/
Entrepreneur First co-founders Alice Bentinck and Matt Clifford (Photo: Business Wire)
Bucking the trend of mounting layoffs and diminishing venture capital volumes across the startup world, owing to fears of a looming recession, the host of successful entrepreneurs and founders are backing EF to unlock opportunities for a diverse set of new global founders.
EF’s impressive global roster of backers includes , John and Patrick Collison (co-founders of Stripe), Taavet Hinrikus (co-founder of Wise), Reid Hoffman (co-founder of LinkedIn), Matt Mullenweg (co-founder of Wordpress), Tom Blomfield (co-founder of Monzo and GoCardless), Nat Friedman (former CEO of Github), Sara Clemens (former COO of Twitch and Pandora), Matt Robinson (co-founder of Nested and GoCardless), Patrick O’Shaughnessy (Positive Sum), Demis Hassabis and Mustafa Suleyman (co-founders of Deepmind), Claire Hughes Johnson, Sten Tamkivi, Elad Gil and Lachy Groom.
Founded in 2011 by Matt Clifford and Alice Bentinck in London, EF now employs 120 around the world. It operates as an early-stage investor, helping talented people find co-founders to partner with ahead of launching startups.
“Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. The idea of taking strangers and helping them start robust and ambitious companies is no longer radical but essential to power the next stage of innovation,” said Matt Clifford, CEO and co-founder of Entrepreneur First.
“The whole EF thesis is finding individuals who otherwise might not start companies and then trying to accelerate their journey to success,” he said.
“EF is completely unique in the early-stage funding landscape. Our whole effort focuses on talent rather than typical venture capital deal flow. We don't try and win deals, we don't pick deals, we find great people. That brings big strengths. The ability to partner before there even is a company is both a relationship and an economic strength,” he added.
Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn and Entrepreneur First board member said: “We are entering a new era for venture funding, with a new generation of global founders needing support to build iconic companies from scratch. I’m excited to be part of this world-class syndicate. We’re all passionate about the power of entrepreneurship to change people’s lives and to change the world. Entrepreneur First represents a new way for talented people to access that opportunity and a new way to build startup ecosystems outside Silicon Valley.”
Alice Bentinck, co-founder of Entrepreneur First, said: “As the value of EF’s portfolio companies passes $10bn, we feel we’re just getting started. We want EF to have a product to enable every ambitious individual to find their co-founder. EF is already one of the world’s great talent communities and with this new funding and these new investors, we’re looking forward to partnering with thousands of more exceptional founders in the coming years”
The cash -- raised as a funding round, rather than a ‘fund’ -- will be used to make investments into new startups as well as allow EF a capacity to experiment, and innovate on how best to fund the next generation of entrepreneurs by launching new products aimed at up-ending the typical venture capital model.
EF is also announcing today that the aggregate value of companies created through its platform now exceeds $10bn. Notable alumni include Tractable (the computer vision unicorn focused on the insurance industry, funded by Insight and Georgian Partners); Omnipresent (the employment platform for remote work, funded by Tencent and Kinnevik); Aztec Protocol (the private transaction protocol, funded by Paradigm); Cleo (the financial management app, funded by Balderton and EQT Ventures); and Permutive (the privacy-compliant advertising infrastructure platform, funded by Softbank).
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
About Business Wire
For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Feeling ’22: Mary Kay Inc. Announces Awards, Milestones, and Accomplishments From First Half of the Year28.7.2022 20:02:00 EEST | Press release
Mary Kay Inc. is feeling ’22. Throughout the first half of the year, the iconic global entrepreneurship company has furthered its innovations in skin science, continued its social impact efforts, and garnered several prestigious awards for its business and leadership. It’s a thing of beauty—and the nearly 60-year-old brand is just getting started. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220728005228/en/ Mary Kay logo (Graphic: Mary Kay Inc.) 2022 AWARDS & HIGHLIGHTS 30 total awards for business excellence, social impact and sustainability 10 employer awards recognizing Mary Kay as a great place to work and for operational excellence 7 awards for Mary Kay’s c-suite and senior leadership 17 self-released reports reinforcing Mary Kay’s operational and philanthropic efforts supporting its sustainability commitments for its Enriching Lives Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow strategy 3 mentions in annual reports from social i
Asaf Ashkenazi Named CEO of Verimatrix28.7.2022 19:00:00 EEST | Press release
Regulatory News: Verimatrix (Euronext Paris: VMX) (Paris:VMX), today announced the appointment of Asaf Ashkenazi as Chief Executive Officer effective Monday, August 1st, 2022. Amedeo D’Angelo, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since 2015, remains Executive Chairman of Verimatrix effective the same day. Asaf Ashkenazi joined Verimatrix in 2018 and currently serves as Chief Operating Officer. He will lead the company’s ongoing business model transformation announced last year that focuses on recurring subscription-based revenue sources and new products. “This evolution and reinforcement of the Verimatrix governance structure aligns well with the company’s needs as we further the progression of our business model,” Amedeo D’Angelo said. “I look forward to working closely with Asaf in his newly expanded role as CEO during this strategic development of Verimatrix.” Previously leading the company’s R&D, product, sales and marketing operations, Asaf Ashkenazi will continue to harness his d
GUESS Heads to Granada for the 2022 Fall/Winter Advertising Campaign28.7.2022 18:00:00 EEST | Press release
The new GUESS Fall-Winter 2022 advertising campaign sees the brand off to explore the history-steeped streets of Granada, Spain. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220728005098/en/ GUESS Heads to Granada for the 2022 Fall/Winter Advertising Campaign (Photo: Business Wire) The FW22 campaign is immortalized through the lens of fashion photographer Tatiana Gerusova, under the guidance of GUESS?, Inc.’s Chief Creative Officer, Paul Marciano. The new campaign features a sizzling lineup: German-born, Polish fashion model Kim Dammer, Serbian model Nina Kostić, Spanish model Lidia Santos, Italian model Mario Ermito, and French model Xavier Grey. GUESS Women The campaign showcases an enticing array of GUESS pieces, highlighting must-have accessories and elevated animal and botanical prints. The collection brings a fresh and youthful breeze of contemporary color and style to grey winter days. Against the alluring continent
Innovaderm Bolsters European Presence With Two Newly-Established Operations Hubs (Spain & Poland)28.7.2022 17:00:00 EEST | Press release
Innovaderm announced today that its strategic European expansion initiative has reached a major milestone with the launch of two key centres of operations in Poland and Spain. Biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies can officially partner with the CRO’s team of experts in Europe to manage clinical trials in psoriasis, acne, atopic dermatitis and other dermatology indications. This includes adherence to stringent regulatory requirements, patient recruitment, site selection, clinical monitoring and protocol writing. “To date, we have successfully completed more than 500 clinical trials at 2,900 sites,” says Dave Selkirk, Innovaderm’s Chief Operating Officer. “The presence of two operations hubs in Europe will allow us to go one step further and accelerate the development of promising therapies that have the potential to transform lives. As we look to the future, our goal is to continue supporting innovation in research and the increasing number of patients with skin conditions worldwi
Echosens Partners with World Hepatitis Alliance on World Hepatitis Day, July 28, Urges Importance of Testing and Treatment28.7.2022 16:07:00 EEST | Press release
Echosens, a high-technology company offering liver diagnostic solutions, establishes its support of World Hepatitis Day (WHD), July 28 by partnering with the World Hepatitis Alliance as a bronze sponsor. The commemoration calls for greater awareness of the 357 million people who live with viral hepatitis but are unaware of it. The campaign’s theme “I can’t wait” highlights the need to accelerate the fight against viral hepatitis and the importance of testing and treatment for the real people who need it. “Echosens recognizes that every 30 seconds, someone in the world dies from a hepatitis-related illness, and we join hands with organizations throughout the world to advance increased vigilance around liver health,” says Dominque Legros, Echosens Group CEO. “It is gratifying to see that this year's theme for World Hepatitis Day aligns with our mission for early detection that can result in more effective intervention, treatment and better outcomes.” Viral hepatitis is an inflammation of
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.Visit our pressroom


text:
NEWTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Select Income REIT (Nasdaq: SIR) today announced that its subsidiary, Industrial Logistics Properties Trust, or ILPT, has filed a registration stat
SOUTHFIELD, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Sterling Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: SBT) “Sterling” today announced that it has completed its initial public offering of 15,000,000 shares of commo
LUND, Sweden, Nov. 21, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --
Palatin Technologies Announces Signing of Licensing Agreement with Kwangdong Pharmaceutical for Republic of Korea
CRANBURY, N.J., Nov. 21, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Palatin Technologies, Inc. (NYSE MKT: PTN; "Palatin") announced today that it has entered into a collaboration and license agreement with Kwangdong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. ("Kwangdong"), for exclusive rights to develop and commercialize bremelanotide for female sexual dysfunction (FSD) indications in the Republic of Korea. Kwangdong, based in Seoul, Korea, is a leading Korean pharmaceutical company with annual sales of approximately $919 million in 2016. A New Drug Application (NDA) is anticipated to be filed with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the first quarter of calendar year 2018.
SHAREHOLDER ALERT: Purcell Julie & Lefkowitz LLP Is Investigating Vulcan Materials Company for Potential Breaches Of Fiduciary Duty By Its Board of Directors
NEW YORK, Nov. 21, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Purcell Julie & Lefkowitz LLP, a class action law firm dedicated to representing shareholders nationwide, is investigating a potential breach of fiduciary duty claim involving the board of directors of Vulcan Materials Company (NYSE: VMC).
SHAREHOLDER ALERT: Purcell Julie & Lefkowitz LLP Is Investigating InnerWorkings, Inc. for Potential Breaches Of Fiduciary Duty By Its Board of Directors
NEW YORK, Nov. 21, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Purcell Julie & Lefkowitz LLP, a class action law firm dedicated to representing shareholders nationwide, is investigating a potential breach of fiduciary duty claim involving the board of directors of InnerWorkings, Inc. (NASDAQ: INWK).
TORONTO, Nov. 21, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - (TSX: KFS, NYSE: KFS) Kingsway Financial Services Inc. ("Kingsway" or the "Company") today announced that it will host an Investor Day on February 20, 2018 in New York, NY after the Company issues its annual results for the year ended December 31, 2017.
SAN JOSE, Calif., Nov. 21, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Xilinx, Inc. (NASDAQ: XLNX), the leader in scalable and comprehensive All Programmable Industrial IoT (IIoT) platforms from Edge to Cloud, will showcase the latest solutions for Factory Automation, Smart Grid and Robotics applications at SPS IPC Drives 2017. Highlights include advancements in Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) for Industrie 4.0, Machine Learning, Cybersecurity, Functional Safety, and Motor Control on Xilinx's All Programmable SoC and MPSoC-based solutions. Visit Xilinx at SPC IPC Drives 2017, Stand #266 in Hall 6, November 28-30, at Nuremberg Messe.
VISTA, Calif., Nov. 21, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- NuZee, Inc. (OTCQB: NUZE) ("NuZee" or "the Company") announced today that Company CEO Masateru Higashida and President Travis Gorney are scheduled to present at the 10th Annual LD Micro Main Event on Tuesday, December 5 at 5:00 pm PT in Los Angeles, CA. NuZee is a good-for-you company focused on building beverage brands that offer functional and nutritional benefits.


text:
Alexa Can Send SMS Messages; Amazon QR ‘Smile’ Codes; Samsung Chip Biz Eclipses Intel; Apple Still Bringing iOS Apps to MacsPosted: January 31, 2018 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Alexa, Amazon, Apple, apps, Chips, Echo, Intel, iOS 12, Mac, Samsung, Silicon, SMS, Texts Leave a comment
Bringing us one step closer to a Star Trek future, Amazon just rolled out another skill for Alexa. Thenextweb.com reports that now you can send SMS text messages by voice command over your Echo or other speaker that has Alexa. A couple of notes, though. It doesn’t work for texting 911 or sending group messages or MMS. Should be pretty handy though, if you need to send a text, and your phone’s across the room or across the house!
Yet another trick Amazon has pulled out of its sleeve…they are working with their own version of QR codes…those little boxes with gibberish patterns. TechCrunch.com says they call them ‘SmileCodes.’ In this case, you can open the scanner that is built into the Amazon app, scan the code, and it will take you to that item on Amazon’s site, or play a related movie trailer or product review. Right now, the codes are listed to pop-up shops and Amazon Lockers in Europe, but the test should be over soon, and expect a rollout in the US before long.
After decades as the top dog in chip manufacturing, Intel has been eclipsed by Samsung as of 2017. The numbers have been crunched, and according to theverge.com, Samsung raked in $69.1 billion worth of the little silicon rascals, while Intel’s take was $62.8 billion. To be fair, Samsung produced more memory and flash, while Intel still leads in processor chips. With the demand only set to increase with self-driving vehicles and more AI coming on line, Samsung should be sitting pretty with this segment of their business.
Yesterday, there was a story out that Apple would be holding back some features for iOS 12 in order to focus on security and reliability of the OS. Apparently, one feature that won’t be held back will be the ability to port iOS apps to Macs. Cnet.com says the team developing that is still on track to roll it out this year, which will make the App Store on the Mac a lot more fun and interesting.
PC & Mac Sales; Smart Speaker Market Booming, Wireless Earbuds-‘Assistive Hearing’ ComingPosted: January 15, 2018 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Acer, Amazon Alexa, Apple, Asus, Bragi, Computer sales, Dash, Dell, Google Home, H-P, Hearing, HomePod, IQBuds Boost, Lenovo, Mac, Nuheara, PC, Smart speakers, Wireless earbuds Leave a comment
It’s easy, especially when covering tech, to be all over the latest mobile devices, and lose track of what’s happening with the venerable PC…which most of us still have and use. Bgr.com has the numbers as tracked by IDC, and here’s where computer brands stood in 2017: #1 was H-P with 22.7% of the market. Lenovo came in 2nd with 21.1%. In third place was Dell with 16.1% market share, and 4th was Apple at 7.6%. Acer was in 5th place with 6.8%, and ASUS grabbed 6th with 6.6%, hot on their trail. The other 19.1% of computer sales was ‘everybody else.’ Of all of them, Apple had the most growth in the 4th quarter covering the holidays.
While Apple fanboys and fangirls breathlessly await the Apple HomePod, the smart speaker market is absolutely booming. According to 9to5mac.com, it’s up 128% since a year ago. Research from Edison Research and NPR indicates one in 6 Americans own a smart speaker of one type or another. 65% of owners say they would never want to go back to not having one! Of the 16% of us that have smart speakers, 11% are Amazon Alexa powered, while 4% use Google Home.
Since Congress passed a law allowing some hearing aid tech without prescription, wireless earbud makers are looking to that as a new market. Engadget.com reports that wireless earbud pioneer Bragi announced at CES that they would be diving into personalized hearing enhancement for their Dash earbuds. On top of that, they are working to develop personalized fitting for hearing loss using the so-called ‘Earprint’ test….pointing out that correcting for hearing loss needs to be as personalized as fitting for glasses. Another company called Nuheara showed off their updated product called IQBuds Boost.
Magic Leap Unveals AR Headset; Apple Allowing Universal Apps-Mac and iOS; UK Deems High Speed Internet a Legal RightPosted: December 20, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Apple, apps, AR, Britain, Creator Edition, FCC, Google, iOS, Lightpack, Lightwear, Mac, Magic Leap, Net neutrality Leave a comment
We’ve been hearing whispers for years, and now Google-backed Magic Leap has taken the wraps off their augmented reality headset’s Creator Edition. 9to5google.com says they will be shipping in 2018, too! The setup consists of a ‘Lightwear’ headset connected to a circular ‘Lightpack’ via a couple cords…the Lightpack contains the processing and graphics, in a mid-sized disk that hangs off a belt or pocket…and a Control’ remote (smaller than most TV remotes) that provides for 6 degrees of freedom and movement. The headset has tech that detects and stores the exact location of walls, surfaces, and physical objects, and also what they are calling ‘360 degree sound field audio.’ The interface accepts inputs from voice, gestures, head poses, and eye tracking. No word on pricing for the Creator Edition yet, but their SDK should be released along with it, in addition to other tools for web and game developers.
Apple is readying to let developers release universal apps that will work across iPhones, iPads, and Macs early next year. In a Bloomberg News writeup picked up by macrumors.com, the official announcement and details could come in June at WWDC 2018. So far, it’s not known if Apple will merge the Mac App Store with the vastly more popular App Store for iOS, but that seems logical. The move would mean better apps for the Mac, since developers put a lot more time and energy into making apps for the more widely used iPhones and iPads.
In the wake of the FCC killing net neutrality here in the US, Britain has taken the opposite position. According to rawstory.com, the UK has deemed high speed internet a legal right for all citizens, and will require that never household is wired for it by 2020.. Communications company BT has pledged to drop around $788 million to connect about a million and a half rural homes to the net. Right now, about 95% of homes in the UK have broadband connections with 24 Mbps or higher speed.
Patent Reveals Striking Future Google Pixel Feature; Survey Shows Way More Switching PC to Mac Than Vice Versa; Best Buy’s Interactive Alexa and Google Home DisplaysPosted: June 28, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Alexa, Amazon, Best Buy, Google, Google Home, Insignia, Mac, Nest, Philips, Pixel, Touch back, Windows Leave a comment
Google will continue the unusual glass/metal back with the Pixel 2, and now we may know where they’re going with it. Bgr.com reports on a Discovery by Patently Mobile -a patent that highlights a touch sensitive surface on the back that would let the user control the device without touching with any elements on the screen-instead, touching the back of the handset. This allows commands and selection without obstructing anything you would be viewing on the screen.
A survey of US computer owners indicates that 21% of Windows laptop users will switch to Mac next time, but only 2% of Mac owners will change to Windows. The number switching Windows to Mac is even higher for Windows desktop users. According to 9to5mac.com, the survey is from Verto Analytics. The biggest no shock in the survey— most of the PC to Mac flippers are in higher income brackets, reflecting Apple’s pricey offerings!
Best Buy is rolling out Amazon Alexa and Google Home products in 700 stores, to be highlighted in separate, free standing display areas. Geekwire.com says the setup will allow customers to use Alexa devices and Google Home devices to interact with nearby products like Nest thermostats, Philips Hue lighting, and Insignia Smart Plugs…a way to try before you buy. 80 million smart home devices were delivered worldwide last year according to IHS Markit, up 64% from 2015. They expect 130 million to be sold this year.
Xiaomi Getting Ready to Bring Their Smartphones to the US; Apple’s WWDC Starts June 13thPosted: June 2, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Apple, China, iOS 10, iPhone, Mac, Microsoft, Samsung, Smartphones, Watch, WWDC, Xiaomi Leave a comment
After following the lead of Samsung and shamelessly aping Apple’s iPhone in their home country of China, it looks like maker Xiaomi is ready for their US closeup. Bgr.com reports that they have become the fastest growing smartphone maker, and now they’re coming to the US. Their latest crop of phones barely resemble the iPhone now, and they’ve purchased about 1500 patents from Microsoft. Xiaomi is known now for selling affordable smartphones with designs and specs that rival much more expensive ones, so if you’re on a budget but want a top flight phone, this could be the real deal.
We knew it was coming soon, and now we have a date. Apple’s World Wide Developer Conference will kick off in San Francisco Monday, June 13th, with the keynote at the usual 10 am Pacific. Bill Graham Civic Auditorium will be crammed to the rafters with tech reporters and developers. By noon that day, we should have lots more details about the next version of Apple’s iPhone/iPad software — iOS 10 — as well as news on Apple Watch, Apple TV and Macs. Cnet.com says they’ll have live coverage, as will a number of other tech sites. We’ll recap things right here. Stay tuned…
New Voice Assistant Shames Siri and Google Now; PS4 Game Play Coming to PCs and MacsPosted: March 1, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Google Now, Hound, Mac, PC, PlayStation, Plug and play, PS4, Remote Play, Siri, Sony, Soundhound, Voice Assistant Leave a comment
Soundhound has rolled out what they’re calling their original concept, which has been 9 years in the making. Businessinsider.com says their new assistant app…Hound…blows both Siri and Google Now into the weeds with both speed and accuracy. SoundHound has been around a while. It recognizes and identifies music that’s playing around you. Instead of converting your voice to text, then trying to decipher what you are inquiring about, Hound’s proprietary engine does it all at once…like a human brain. Hound can replace Google Now as default voice assistant on Android, but Apple doesn’t allow replacing Siri on iOS. Hound has 110 data partners, while Siri started with 12 5 years ago, and even now only have 25.
The next system software update for Sony’s PS4 will be out in beta this week. Bgr.com reports that Sony has announced Remote Play. Remote Play won’t work in the beta, but by late this year, the final version of update 3.50 will be released to the public, and with it, and everyone with a PS4 will be able to stream games directly to their PC or Mac. Best of all, the PS4 controller is basically plug-and-play on computers, so gamers won’t have to fiddle around with the controls to make everything work.
Macs Will Get Siri in Next OS X Update; Google’s Next Gen Atlas RobotPosted: February 24, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Apple, Atlas, Google, Mac, OS X, Robot, Siri Leave a comment
Apple’s assistant Siri is coming to the Mac in OS X 10.12. 9to5mac.com reports that the feature will live in the Menu Bar like the Spotlight icon…click it, and a little translucent Siri window will pop up below, and voice control will switch on. A keyboard shortcut is also planned, and the ‘Hey, Siri’ feature too, if the Mac is plugged in to power.
Google’s Boston Dynamics company, has shared a peek at what it is calling the “next generation” of its Atlas robot. The new Atlas is designed to can work both indoors and outdoors, the company says, and weighs a solid 180 pounds, according to 9to5google.com. The ‘bot is 5 feet 9 inches tall and has sensors in its legs and body to help it balance, as well as LIDAR and stereo sensors in its head to avoid obstacles, survey surrounding terrain, and aide in seamless navigation.
Thoughts On The Coming Apple Electric CarPosted: September 22, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Apple, Electric Car, EPA, Foxconn, Google, Mac, Microsoft, Office, Office 365, Self Driving, Windows 10 Leave a comment
It was all over the tech news yesterday, and first reported by the Wall St. Journal, that Apple had put it’s Project Titan…their car project…on the front burner, and want an Apple car on the road by 2019. Google has spoken out couple times, underscoring that they are NOT planning to actually build a Google self-driving car, but will partner with car makers. Apple’s electric car project, by the way, will apparently not be self-driving. Apple will not be building their own car. As bgr.com snarked, who is going to build it…it won’t be Foxconn! I predict that Apple will have to partner with one or more actual car maker. Right now, it takes a car maker a minimum of 4 years to get a model out, and they have the actual plants and equipment to build cars at scale. Apple doesn’t, and can’t possibly be ready to produce them by 2019. Even an electric with no EPA emission requirements will still have to meet federal standards in various countries for safety. Which manufacturer or manufacturers will they partner with, and will it be sold from present dealerships or out of Apple branded car stores, like Tesla is doing? Stay tuned.
From Microsoft’s Office blog, comes something that’s NOT vaporware…Office 2016 for Windows and Office 2016 for Mac are available now to everyone. The Windows version is more tightly integrated with both Windows 10 and Office 365, and subscribers can get more frequent updates with new features and improvements. Microsoft says the Mac version had been out since July for 365 subscribers, but now is a one-time purchase option open to all with several new and enhanced Office 365 services. As is typical for Office and Microsoft products, the features and even pricing are beyond the time constraints we have here.
New Force Touch Macbook Pro and iMac Out This WeekPosted: May 18, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Android Auto, Apple, Car Play, DEC, Force Touch, Google, IBM, iMac, Mac, Macbook Pro, Self Driving Cars, Windows Leave a comment
Wednesday looks to be the day that Apple drops new 15 inch Macbook Pros and 27 inch iMacs with Force Touch baked in to the track pads. 9to5mac.com says that otherwise, the update will be a minor one, with upgrades to the CPU and graphics processors.
In a story from tech crunch.com penned by the CEO of Zuora, the present car industry is compared to the early PC industry of the mid 80’s. The auto makers are cast as being as clueless as giant IBM was at that time, and Digital Equipment…remember them…even more out of touch. IBM went on to be clobbered as the platform…like Windows or Mac…became much more important to consumers than the brand itself. With Gartner predicting that there will be 250 million connected cars on the road by 2020, the platform makers, like Google with Android Auto and Apple with Car Play, may become far more important that the actual brand of cars…causing a gigantic shakeup in the auto industry.


text:
The feature which is live across 16,000 pincodes will enable customers to take advantage of Paytm Gold and MMTC PAMP’s tie-up to buy, sell or redeem the gold starting as low as 1 gram.
Home Berry will be part of website's home décor and furnishing space for tier 3 and 4 cities
Ward Ferry also holds stakes in listed Chinese budget hotel chain Huazhu Hotels Group and India's largest online travel agent MakeMyTrip.
With Alibaba joining investee firm Paytm Mall in the talks to pick up a stake in the e-grocer, BigBasket has easily shrugged off Amazon's snub.
Approval comes two months after the company raised Rs 9,000 crores from SoftBank, making it the biggest investment by the Japanese conglomerate’s in the Indian company.
Post GST, sellers are finding the going tough with a 20-30% dip across marketplaces while Paytm has delisted 85,000 sellers who failed to meet quality standards
Sale of home appliances, including television and washing machines, also jumped 8x during the sale period.
The company, which recently opened up its data-driven platform for mobile ad placement called Uni Marketing, had announced a tie-up with advertising giant Publicis Groupe of France.
The infusion from Amazon Corporate Holding Singapore and Amazon.Incs Malaysia made in May takes the total capital infused to Rs 756 crore, with a tranche of Rs 100 crore added in December 2016.
The company has also appointed Shalini Puchalapalli as director of Amazonbusiness.in — the platform operated by Amazon Wholesale — formerly headed by Kaveesh Chawla.
- No blogs yet have been written by the author, we’re sure the author will contribute one soon


text:
Report: First iPhone Worm Is "Half Warning, Half Prank"
There's a first time for everything, and over the weekend the iPhone got an unwelcome first: an "in the wild" worm, which (luckily for most of us) can only crawl its way into jailbroken iPhones. But before you panic, know that the "ikee" worm appears to be more of a prank--and a warning--than a real threat.
Forbes.com reports that the worm, dubbed "ikee," was found nesting in jailbroken iPhones in Australia by security research firms Sophos and F-Secure. (A "jailbroken" iPhone that's been unlocked or otherwise hacked; if you don't know what a jailbroken iPhone is, you probably don't have one, so relax.)


text:
The same entity that claims to be behind a recent hack of CIA Director John Brennan's personal email now claims to be behind a breach of the accounts of Director of National Intelligence James Clapper. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence confirmed to Motherboard that Clapper had been targeted, and that the case has been forwarded to law enforcement.
A group of hackers calling themselves “Crackas With Attitude” or CWA made headlines in October, hacking into CIA Director John Brennan’s email account and apparently getting access to several online tools and portals used by US law enforcement agencies.The hackers' exploits prompted the FBI to issue an alert warning government officials of their attacks.
One of the group’s hackers, who’s known as “Cracka,” contacted me on Monday, claiming to have broken into a series of accounts connected to Clapper, including his home telephone and internet, his personal email, and his wife’s Yahoo email. While in control of Clapper’s Verizon FiOS account, Cracka claimed to have changed the settings so that every call to his house number would get forwarded to the Free Palestine Movement. When they gained notoriety last year, Cracka and CWA claimed their actions were all in support of the Palestine cause.
“I’m pretty sure they don’t even know they've been hacked,” Cracka told me in an online chat.
But Brian Hale, a spokesperson for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, confirmed the hack to Motherboard on Tuesday.
“We’re aware of the matter and we reported it to the appropriate authorities,” Hale said, declining to answer any other questions on the record. (The FBI declined to comment.)
Cracka, or whoever is pretending to be him, taunted authorities on Twitter (the hacker used a new Twitter account, not the same one he used at the time of the Brennan hack.
Teen Who Hacked CIA Email Is Back to Prank US Spy Chief
[Motherboard via Ars Technica reports]
In 2012, Google rolled out Certificate Transparency, a clever system to spot corrupt “Certificate Authorities,” the entities who hand out the cryptographic certificates that secure the web. If Certificate Authorities fail to do their jobs, they put the entire electronic realm in danger — bad certificates could allow anything from eavesdropping on financial transactions to […]
Troy Hunt, proprietor of the essential Have I Been Pwned (previously) sets out the hard lessons learned through years of cataloging the human costs of breaches from companies that overcollected their customers’ data; undersecured it; and then failed to warn their customers that they were at risk.
A security researcher has published a vulnerability and proof-of-concept exploits in Google’s Internet of Things security cameras, marketed as Nest Dropcam, Nest Dropcam Pro, Nest Cam Outdoor and Nest Cam Indoor; these vulnerabilities were disclosed to Google last fall, but Google/Nest have not patched them despite the gravity of the vulnerability and the long months […]
Custom coffee vessels are the perfect piece of office flair, but it’s just a matter of time before your VOTE FOR PEDRO mug will start to lose its relevant wit. Why not have a new one every day, with whatever silly nonsense you want sticking off the sides? You can save big on your novelty […]
The Lightning port has thus far resisted the cruel fate that befell the headphone jack, and despite rumors that it may be disappearing come iPhone 8, for the present and foreseeable future, Lightning cables are a hot commodity for iPhone users. As such, we must make do in this strange time in which long, glorified […]
All the filters in the world won’t save your smartphone pics from a shaky hand. To really step up your mobile photography game, you’ll need some kind of mount to hold it steady. You could buy a smartphone attachment for a conventional camera tripod, but who wants to carry that kind of gear everywhere they […]


text:
Dodge brought by a selection of its newest vehicles at a recent media event. We had the chance to photograph and test drive the next generation of Dodge vehicles, including the 2009 Challenger (SRT-8 and R/T versions), the new 2009 Ram pickup truck, and the Durango Hemi Hybrid SUV. Also on hand was the, which we've already reviewed.
iPhone running slow?
Here are some quick fixes for some of the most common problem in iOS 7.


text:
The rising cost of living weighed on household budgets, indicating fragility in the country's recovery path, as households cut back spending for a second consecutive month in August.
The ministry of internal affairs reported Friday that household outlays fell by 1.7% from July. Spending increased 5.1% from a year ago, compared to a 6.7% increase predicted by analysts.
A separate report shows wages adjusted for inflation fell for a fifth consecutive month, hurting consumers spending power. Nominal wages rose at a faster pace than the revised figure from the previous month.
There are headwinds for an economic recovery after the Pandemic, according to the weak consumption data.
The fastest inflation in more than three decades excluding tax-hike impacts is threatening to hurt future consumption.
The government is going to compile a new economic stimulus package to help the pain on households and businesses by the end of the month, and has already extended its price-relief measures. The size of the package could be boosted by the accelerating pace of inflation.
Price increases are becoming an obstacle for consumers who haven't experienced inflation above 2% for more than a decade. The economy is expected to have grown in the third quarter after returning to pre-pandemic size in the last three months, according to analysts. In August, retail sales and industrial production beat estimates.
The government did not bring back any virus-related restrictions even though the daily infection numbers topped 200,000 in the summer.
On October 11, the nation's borders are set to reopen to inbound tourism, which may boost spending in the economy with a weak yen boosting visitors purchasing power. The currency's historic slide has made imports of food and energy more expensive and weighed on Japanese households.
Cash earnings were up 1.7% from a year ago, according to the labor ministry. The real wages, adjusted for inflation, fell 1.7%, chipping away at households budgets.
Until the Shareholders are Paid, none of Musk Won tweets on Twitter.


text:
What you need to know
- Fiat has announced three new 'Hey Google' special edition Fiat 500 vehicles.
- The new Fiat 500 'Hey Google' family includes the 500, 500X, and 500L.
- All three models will soon go on sale in 10 countries across Europe.
Fiat has teamed up with Google for the latest special editions of its popular 500, 500X, and 500L vehicles. All three special edition versions feature 'Hey Google' branding and the latest version of the tech giant's voice assistant. Owners of the new 'Hey Google' Fiat 500 special edition cars will be able to interact with them remotely using their smartphone or the Nest Hub, which is one of the best smart displays around.
Since the new vehicles come with the Google Assistant built-in, you can check your fuel level, find the nearest service station, switch on the emergency lights, and more by saying 'Hey Google, ask My Fiat…". Needless to say, you will also be able to ask Google Assistant for directions and weather updates when you're on the road.
Vincenzo Riili, Google Italy's Country Marketing Director, wrote in a blog post:
Along with built-in Google Assistant, the new Fiat 500, 500L, and 500X models are the first cars to come with the 'Hey Google' badge. They also feature special design elements on the doors and in the interior inspired by the tech giant's colors.
The new Fiat 500 Hey Google vehicles will soon be available in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, and the UK. According to Autocar, prices for the new cars will start at £16,005 ($22,099).
Get the Android Central Newsletter
Instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.


text:
Roopa Industries STOCK
Ford and VW just announced a global alliance — the first collaborations will be commercial vans and pickup trucks (F)Business Insider 21h
DETROIT — On Tuesday, Ford and Volkswagen revealed details of a global alliance.
In a joint statement, the automakers said that "Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess and Ford CEO Jim Hackett confirmed that the companies intend to develop commercial vans and medium-sized pickups for global markets beginning as early as 2022." ...
Roopa Industries NewsMORE
|No news availale|
Quotes for Roopa Industries Stock
Roopa Industries Stock Key FiguresMORE
|Market Cap (USD)||Book Value per Share|
|Free Float in %||Cash Flow per Share|
|Number of Shares (in MM)||7.87||P/B Ratio|
ANALYST DATA FOR Ahold Delhaize (Ahold) Stock MORE
Stock Information Roopa IndustriesMORE
|Full Name||Roopa Industries Ltd Dematerialised||Country||India|
Profile Roopa Industries MORE
Roopa Industries RELATED STOCKS


text:
Major automobile companies like Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Tata Motors and Mahindra have registered positive sales in the last August. Maruti Suzuki Baleno became the best selling vehicle with 18,418 vehicles sold in the month of August 2022. But apart from this, another shocking figure has also come to the fore. In fact, Maruti Brezza has secured the number 1 position in the list of best selling SUVs. Brezza price starts from ₹ 7.99 Lakh. At the same time, the price of Tata Nexon starts at 7.60 Lakh. Both these prices are ex showroom.
Also read- Hyundai will launch this vehicle tomorrow, price and features details revealed
Which cars are on second or third number?
The new Maruti Brezza has regained its lost position in the SUV segment, leaving behind the Tata Nexon, Hyundai Creta and Tata Punch. However, the difference between Maruti Brezza and Tata Nexon is minor. Maruti sold 15,193 Brezza vehicles in August 2022 as compared to 1,9,906 units sold in the same month last year, registering an annual sales growth of 18 per cent. On the other hand, Tata Motors sold 1,5085 vehicles of the Nexon compact SUV last month, while in August 2021, the company sold 1,1006 vehicles. Nexon has posted 51% year-on-year sales growth.
Hyundai has sold 12,577 vehicles of the Creta compact SUV in August 2022, compared to 12,597 vehicles sold in the same month last year. Apart from this, Tata Motors has also registered sales of more than 12,000 punch SUVs in the month of August 2022. With sales of 1,2006 punch SUVs last month, it has become the fourth best selling vehicle in the SUV segment.
Also read- Worries about expensive petrol will end, now vehicles will run with these new technologies
Top 10 list of best selling vehicles
In the top 10 list of best-selling vehicles, Maruti Baleno 18,418, Maruti WagonR 18,398 on the second, Maruti Brezza 15,193, Tata Nexon 15,085 on the fourth, Maruti Alto 14,388 on the fifth, Hyundai Creta 12,577 on the sixth, Tata on the seventh in the top 10 list of best-selling vehicles Punch 12,006, Maruti Eeco 11,999 at eighth, Maruti Dzire 11,868 at ninth and Maruti Swift 11,275 at number ten.


text:
On Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, the ElectriFUN Faribault and Recharge America Electric Vehicle (EV) Test Drive and Expo will take place at Trystar’s headquarters from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Event attendees will have the opportunity to explore the world of EVs and there will be a variety of makes and models for individuals to test drive. In addition, attendees will be able to ride an ebike, discover current and near-future plans for charging, and learn about local, state, and federal rebates. EV experts will also be on-site to answer any questions that may arise regarding vehicle specs and ranges and charging processes. The event is free and open to the public. For more information visit: www.recharge-minnesota.org
Fostering educational and employment opportunities is important to Faribault’s future. With the growth in the EV industry, along with jobs being added in green energy fields such as solar and wind, Faribault is excited to be a part of bringing living wage careers to the community.
The EV Expo is presented in partnership with Xcel Energy, the City of Faribault, Faribault Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, and Recharge Minnesota.
Date: Saturday, September 23, 2023
Time: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Trystar Facilities Parking Lot
15765 Acorn Trail
Faribault, MN 55021
Rain Date: Sunday, Sept. 24, 10 am - 2 pm


text:
Microsoft wants an experienced developer for what will probably end up as either the biggest flop in videogame multiplayer history or the best thing ever — an Xbox 360 game that will allow 300,000 players simultaneously. Seriously.
The plans for this mysterious title were extracted from a job posting by Microsoft (spotted by Develop) which reads, “We are building an extremely high performance system to extend console games to the server in new was; creating a completely new set of web services to support dynamic programming information of games and scheduling data.”
The engineer will be responsible for “building a backend capable of hosting a 300,000 player game in real-time with real money on the line (anti-cheating, etc).”
Call us crazy, but this sounds like a future Xbox LIVE Primetime title. Think a massive, real-time digital poker tournament similar to the World Series of Poker. Or, as Kotaku notes, it could be a cross-platform Halo project. Either way, this thing is going to be big. Eat your heart out, MAG.
[image via Shasta Film Fest]


text:
One of the most iconic appearance packages of the 1990s is back. The 2022 Ford Ranger Splash™ Package puts your personality on full display with a vibrant orange color and unique black body-side graphics that truly pop whether you’re cruising down the highway or parked on the curb.
“Ranger customers love to personalize their trucks — more than 80% customize their Ranger with an appearance package — and with Splash, we’re giving them something exclusive,” said Chad Callandar, Ford Ranger marketing manager. “Every few months, we’re going to roll out another exterior color for Ranger that will be offered one time only and in very limited quantities.”
Splash will come in two different styles: Splash Package and Splash™ Limited Edition. The former will be available for the entirety of the 2022 model year and feature body-side orange and black graphics, special 12-spoke wheels finished in matte black, exclusive seats with orange contrast stitching, and unique carbon grain with tuxedo stripes.
Meanwhile, Splash Limited Edition trucks will be revealed only every few months, and just a few hundred models will be made available. The first of these will be a Ranger Splash – Snow Edition model, which has yet to be unveiled. Make sure to call Tropical Ford in Orlando, Florida, to be one of the lucky few owners of this truck when it launches.


text:
The investment lawyers of Gana Weinstein LLP are investigating the regulatory action brought by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) against Michael Resciniti (Resciniti). According to BrokerCheck records, Resciniti was suspended by FINRA in December 2017 for seven months. In addition, Resciniti has been subject to five customer disputes and three regulatory orders. Three of the customer disputes are still pending. Many of the claims allege churning and unauthorized trading.
In November 2017, FINRA found that Resciniti executed 31 unauthorized transactions in two of his customer’s accounts. The duration of his suspension is 7 months.
In addition, in February 2016, Resciniti resolved a bankruptcy filing and has a tax lien of over $115,000. Bankruptcies and large tax liens are a potential sign that the advisor has difficulty managing their own finances. FINRA provides this information to the public because it is material for consumers to know whether or not their advisor’s financial situation influences the advisor’s recommendations.


text:
If you’re missing the thrills of SeaWorld and Busch Gardens’ roller coasters, you’re in luck! New models of the iconic thrill rides, called Nanocoasters, are now available.[Read more…]
By Gavin Hatch
This week we go to Winter Haven to explore and see the over 2 million Lego bricks used in the new Legoland Hotel at the Legoland Florida Resort. [Read more…]
Legoland Florida is bringing the Force to its guests this weekend with a brand new event for Star Wars fans. [Read more…]
Hosts Banks Lee and Jessie Reitz bring you this week’s theme park and attraction news. On this week’s episode: [Read more…]
For a fun way to celebrate Father’s Day weekend, head to Downtown Disney as they host a classic car show with a modern twist during Car Masters Weekend.
We were invited to Legoland Florida today to get a sneak peek at their Miniland USA land and take a ride on Lost Kingdom Adventure. Here are some photos and videos, for our full report, be sure to watch episode 42 of Orlando Attractions Magazine – The Show (Releases Oct. 22, 2011). [Read more…]


text:
EA Games President Frank Gibeau swears to God he didn’t kill the sequel to Mirror’s Edge, he’s just trying to figure out how to release a sequel that will actually be a big hit.
Mirror’s Edge fans got a bit wound up earlier this month when the word went around that EA had pulled the plug on the sequel. Its failure to find a big audience made the planned follow-up something of a low priority and after EA rejected DICE’s pitch for the game, everyone working on it was reportedly reassigned. Things started to look up a bit a few days later, however, when DICE General Manager Karl Magnus Troedsson tweeted that the whole story had been manufactured out of “rumor milling, loose quotes and assumptions,” and now Gibeau has framed the situation in even less uncertain terms, flat-out denying that the series is dead.
“We’re just trying to figure out how to bring Mirror’s Edge back and in what way. That’s part of the creative development process,” Gibeau told CVG. “I know there are some stories about how EA killed Mirror’s Edge. Well, I’m the guy; I greenlight the games. I did not kill it – as God is my witness.”
“What we said internally is. ‘What do we need to do to make [the sequel] a hit?’ We need to go from version one to version two so that it sells two to three times as many, it finds a much bigger audience,” he continued. “The first game from a quality standpoint was good, but now it needs to be great.”
Mirror’s Edge was definitely a good game but not without flaws, although to its credit, many of those flaws were the result of legitimate risk-taking by DICE. The game broke two million unit sales, a mediocre figure at best, so the priority for a follow-up is to broaden the appeal. “We’re actively working on ideas in the Mirror’s Edge universe,” Gibeau said. “We just haven’t locked yet on a way to bring it back and a way that fans will be excited, but at the same time we can get it to a bigger audience.”


text: A new rule issued by the Federal Reserve brings consistency to how debit card transactions are processed online or in person – and it comes as welcome news to many restaurant operators that had to pivot to accommodate contactless payments over the course of the past two years. The rule requires debit card issuers to enable at least two unaffiliated networks to process all debit card transactions, including “card not present” (CNP) or online payments. CNP transactions have historically cost more for businesses to process than in-store payments. The National Restaurant Association believes that the shift to more unaffiliated networks could translate to less expensive swipe fees for CNP debit card transactions. Further, the rule will also incentivize card payment networks to improve their fraud-prevention capabilities and help operators identify theft and data breaches more readily.


text:
*COMPREHENSIVE INVESTIGATION: CROWN STERLING – Bona Fide or Fraud?? No specific details about its Time AI product or how to implement it have been released. And CEO Robert Grant is involved with parascience, including conference starting today in Newport Beach…….
When Crown Sterling presented its new “discovery” at a private event at the Pelican Hill Resort in Newport Beach on September 19, CEO Robert Grant said this was the first time this information was being released publicly. It wasn’t. Crown Sterling, which describes itself as an “emerging digital cryptography


text:
According to Bloomberg, Motorola has over 17,000 registered patents in its portofolio, and 18 of them are very valuable for Google’s “war” against Apple (Android vs iOS).
The inventions date back to 1994 and form the core of three Motorola lawsuits against Apple, making them among the “superstars” of the portfolio, said David Mixon, a patent lawyer at Bradley Arant Boult Cummings in Huntsville, Alabama. They cover technology essential to the mobile-device industry, including location services, antenna designs, e-mail transmission, touch- screen motions, software-application management and third- generation wireless.
“Any patent owner, before they consider litigation is going to carefully evaluate their patents to withstand an attack,” Mixon said in a telephone interview. “You don’t want to hold any back. You want to pick your strongest patents.”


text:
SAP reported a 28% increase in cloud revenue in Q4. Due to this high achievement, SAP’s new goal is to boost revenue by 26% in 2022.
IT operating businesses are shifting their operations to SAP cloud databases, significantly boosting revenue. Therefore, in a 2021 closing preliminary earning statement, SAP reported that their revenue has climbed to 2.61 billion euros ($2.99 billion). The new goal is to obtain up to 26% growth by the end of 2022.
Resilient and sustainable with SAP?
As a high number of companies choose SAP as their primary cloud business database, it begs the question, what is attracting companies toward SAP? Chief Executive Officer of SAP Christian Klein said in a statement, “we are helping IT companies build resilient supply chains and become sustainable enterprises as they move to our cloud system.” Not a very insightful answer to the question, but the
Additionally, SAP offers easy integration across businesses and promotes customized, user-friendly ecosystem solutions. Users also have the option to choose between private and public cloud as SAP ensures its users have complete flexibility during software selection.
SAP profit report
SAP has not released its final profit report yet, but it is expected to be released on Jan. 27, 2022. According to the released information, SAP’s 6% year-on-year increase totaled 7.98 billion euros, ending in December.
Due to this boost in revenue, SAP shares value has also risen dramatically. Its share price has reached a 10% increase, closing its share value at 1.86 euros per share. SAP is also announcing a new 1 billion euro share repurchase program because of its past year’s success. The date for carrying out this program is Feb. 1 and Dec. 31, 2022, hoping their success streak will stay constant.


text:
'It was like a flamethrower'
It seemed like a routine repair job.
A customer arrived at Comprite — an electronics repair shop in West Linn — with a Samsung Galaxy S7 edge phone that wasn't working. The phone had a bulge near its battery storage area, and it didn't take long for Comprite owner Eric Varivoda to diagnose the problem.
"Yeah, it's the battery," he told the customer. "We can get it ordered for you."
The new battery arrived Tuesday. But when Varivoda pulled the old battery out, the situation became, well, explosive.
"I pulled it out of the phone and put it down, and — no joke — about two minutes later it started steaming up," Varivoda said. "I thought I should probably throw it on the ground before it exploded."
Varivoda pulled out his own phone to start taking a video just a few seconds before the battery burst into flames.
"It was like a flamethrower," he said. "Fire was coming out for 30 seconds. I had to stomp it out … it could have caught the whole building on fire."
Over the course of about five years working on phones, Varivoda had seen plenty of batteries expand or release steam — but never explode. Varivoda was unharmed in the incident, but the explosion did leave a charred impression on the floor of the store.
"It was a bit of an intense experience," Varivoda said. "In no way did I expect it to do that."
He added that the situation could have been much worse.
"The concern was if it exploded in someone's pocket or something," Varivoda said. "We did reach out to Samsung and showed them what's going on. … We're sending it back (to Samsung) and we set (the customer) up with a phone in the meantime, so he can use that temporarily. We're hoping they replace his phone with a new one or cover the cost of it."


text:
Get involved! Send your photos, video, news & views by texting DN NEWS to 80360 or e-mail us
Sedgley crafters display handmade wares
9:00am Saturday 22nd September 2012 in News
PEOPLE can get ahead of the Christmas rush and start picking up locally made crafts and wares at Sedgley Live Craft Show next weekend.
The fair, at Sedgley Community Centre in Ladies Walk, will take place on Saturday September 29, from 10am until 4pm.
Stalls will include jewellery, cards, cupcakes, ceramics, photography, pottery, crochet and wood gifts.
Entrance is free, with proceeds going towards the community centre.
Comments are closed on this article.


text:
The Market Traders Association of Nigeria, MATAN, on Thursday, disclosed that the Federal Government has lost over N31trillion to illegal tax collectors who are extorting Nigerian traders.
It decried multiple taxation by the relevant government agencies, warning that if not curtailed, it would result in geometric increase of the prices of goods and wares at various markets in Nigeria.
Speaking at the “Benefit Scheme Enrolment for Traders” held at Adamasigba Stadium in Ibadan, the Chairman, Project Committee of the Scheme, Ambassador Olakunle Moses Johnson lamented that traders paid a lot of money before their good could get to its destination.
He said: “MATAN initiates enumeration of traders nationwide, we issue them multipurpose identity cards so that government at all levels can have direct access to them irrespective to their status.
“We want to know the number of traders in Nigeria. Trader Money was shared analogue and this makes it difficult for all traders to benefit from it, and it failed to get to the grassroots.” Johnson stated.
In his remark, the Chairman, MATAN Board of Trustee, Hon. Muhammad Labaran said: “Multiple taxation contribute to high rate of price commodity, we have resolved that the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, should invite all stakeholders in controlling and implementing price control such as Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN; MATAN and National Association of Small Scale and Medium Agriculture Mine and Power, who are critical stakeholders.
“In a meeting, we agreed that we want to eliminate habit of multiple taxation on goods from the factory to consumers, until this is done, Nigerians will continue to suffer.” He declared.
Labaran further bemoaned that majority of traders in urban and rural areas were not properly accommodated by the government due to lack of data.


text:
What you drink says a lot about you.
For most pundits the commercial fare is good enough; Klippies and Supersport tick all the right boxes.
For a team of 15 international rugby stars (led by World Cup-winning, ex-Springbok captain John Smit) however, ordinary just isn't nearly good enough.
Leading up to this year's extraordinary Rugby World Cup in France a select group of players have created an equally-special, premium brandy called Avante.
With a track record of pleasing crowds, the team have opened up the opportunity for rugby fans to secure pre-sales of the brandy (before it gets officially launched worldwide later this year) and are in addition, promising their pre-sale customers a host of 'insider' rugby illuminati backstage-passes to get an alternative scoop on what the players' thoughts and views are on the games and happenings during this year's tournament.
With an Avante Brandy pre-sale purchase, fans also receive exclusive access to a group where players will be actively online at specified times and available to answer questions and engage with the Avante community directly.
It's a bit like having a direct hotline through to the rugby-gods; guaranteed to make the experience of this year's tournament that much more memorable.
Rugby fans in South Africa, France and the UK will have their pre-ordered drinks delivered directly to them end September / early October.
There's obviously a reason that collectively the Avante team have a number of World Cup and Tri-nations trophies already won between them.
Question now is however, is the brandy any good?
Considering that the liquid is a VSOP brandy that has been masterfully distilled by one of the very best distilleries in the world (right in the heart of the Western Cape), it promises to be world-beating.
But you'll obviously need to pre-order your own limited-release bottle to find out before anyone else.


text:
Taking strong interest in blockchain, cryptocurrencies, and IoT, Tatsiana Yablonskaya got deep understanding of the emerging techs believing in their potential to drive the future.
Bitcoin is entering 2016 with winning positions being called “one of the world’s best performing currencies of 2015”.
2015 turned out to become one of the most crucial years for Bitcoin. Bloomberg even “gave it an award” as the comeback of the year. Indeed Bitcoin gained almost 40 percent comparing with the previous year which left the Somali shilling, the Gambian dalasi and the Burundi franc behind. The last three months showed its rapid price raise. Here are just some figures demonstrating the growing strength of the cryptocurrency:
- 100-millionth bitcoin transaction is expected in the last days of 2015;
- There are more than 200,000 transactions conducted every day and this is by 136% more comparing with the last year;
- Bitcoin-related companies have raised $1 billion in venture capital investment in 2015.
During the whole year bitcoin’s price was fluctuating between its lowest position of $177.28 (January 14) to its peak of $465.50 (December 15). This last-month boost holds out a hope of even better 2016. According to the bitcoin program its reward is halved every four years.
The next scheduled term is July 2016. Thus miners will be paid half the amount as previously for mining new coin. However bitcoin experts said that “efficient market theory” implies the market has already “baked” this event into bitcoin’s price.
Many in the bitcoin community stick to the opinion that the cryptocurrency will demonstrate further growth due to the higher adoption of cryptocurrency. Bobby Lee, the chief executive of one of the leading bitcoin exchanges in China, BTCC, predicts that the cryptocurrency will get way beyond the limits of current peak price.
According to him the price can increase severalfold within next months and make up $3,500 by next summer. “Today the worth of bitcoin is $1 per capita in the world (population),” Lee said, referring to the value of all the bitcoins in circulation, around $6.5 billion. “For such an innovative, decentralized digital asset, I say ‘boy, are we undervaluing it’. But it takes a while for people to realize that.”
Visa Europe has recently presented its annual summary “Why 2015 was the year for payments”. It mentioned separately the blockchain and its increasing role in the fintech. Indeed this year has turned blockchain into the most promising technology of 2015. It’s hard to enumerate all the financial institutions that turned to the blockchain in order to enhance their services.
“The challenges for blockchain and bitcoin in the year ahead will be two-fold. Proponents will have to further address the lack of trust, a challenge they have faced since their creation. Then, the challenge of turning these technologies to tackle more real-world scenarios, such as sending money overseas,” says Visa.